Telephone-switch



(mmm.)

T. A. WATSON. Telephone Swtohes.

No, 232,159f

Patented Sept..14,1880.

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WASHINGION D C STATES PATENT OFFICE;V

THOMAS A. VVATSON, OF EVERETT, MASSAOHUSETTS.

TELEPHONE-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 232,159, dated September 14, 1880.

Application filed April 12, 1880. ,(No model.)

To all whom tt may concem:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. VATSON, of Everett, county ot' Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invcnted an Im provement in Telephones, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to telephones, and is intended as an improveincnt on the telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell, for which Letters Patent of the United States were issued January 80, 187 7, to which reference may be had. In that patent a fixed or stationary telephone was shown provided with a flexible tube or sound-conductor having at its end a suitable month-piece to be placed to the ear or month of the operator, as desired.

My invention consists in adaptin;` the said telephone to operate the usual automatic switch now operated by the weight of a movable telephone; also, in adapting the monthpiece of the flexible tube to be readily fastened to the ear of the opera-tor, thus allowing a free use of the hands and relieving the said operator from the present nccessity of holding the heavy hand-telephone at his ear. This is especially advantageous where a continued con- Versation is to be maintained while using independent reoeiving' and transmitting instruments, or where, as at the central officc, an operator must be in nearly or quite continnal communication with the subscribers.

Figure 1 is a side view of a telephonic apparatus embodying` my invention; Fig. 2, a modification thereof, and Fig. 3 views of the monthpiece of the tube detaehed in section and front elevation. v

The telephone a, intended to be attached to the wall of the room or maintained in any desired fixed position, is provided with a fiexible tube or sound-conthictor, b, which may issue from or take the place of the usual fixed month-piece 0.

The tube b is provided at its free extremity with the usual tlaring month-piece d, which serves both to receive sound from a speaker or to be placed to the ear to impart sound to a listener, the sound being conducted in either case with scarcely diminished intensity through the tube b to or from the usual. telephone-diaphragm at the inside of the month` piece c.

In order that a lixed telephone constructed with a fiexible sound-conducting tube may operate the usual automatic switch c without necessitatingI any change in the latter, I provide a sufficient weight at the mouth-piece d of the said tube, which may conveniently be placed in an enlargement, f, at the end of the said tube Z) adjoining the month-piece, and should have a suitable ring or eye, g, to enable it to be hung on to operate the hooked switch-piece e.

A weight applied in this manner serves as a oonvenient handle for the month-piece d, preventing the pressure of the hand from collapsingg,` and closing the tube b, and I find that a weight suitable for Operating the switch is not sufticient to fatigue the operator using the telephone.

Fig. 2 shows another method of Operating the switch without necessitating` any material alteration in its construction or the arrangement of its contact-pieces. In this instance the hook eis bentinto a sli ghtly different shape, and a slightly yielding elastic abutting-piece, h, is attaohed to the frame-work sustaining the other parts of the switch, so that when the collar z' of the month-piece d is thrust between the pieces c h it will press the former down, as is usually done by the weight of the telephone.

It will be readily understood that by leading the flexible tube b where it first leaves the fixed portion of the apparatus out over the movable switch-piece c, which may be proper] y shaped to receive it, the said switch-piece may be operated by merely dropping` the tube and letting its entire weight, with an added weight at its free end, if necessary, rest on or hang` from the said switch-piece; or a similar effect would be produced with the apparatus of Fig. l if the hook c were connected by a cord to the proper point 011 the bight of the tube b-as, for instance, at m. In this case, of course, the ring g would be omitted, and the month-piece d merely dropped when the operator had finished using the telephone.

In some cases it is necessary or desirable to retain the telephone at the ear for a considerable length of time, and this may bc accomplished with the aid of the fiexible tube Za without Vitiating` the usefulness thereof for speak ing purposes or neccssitating any additional month-piece therefor.

As shown in Fig. 1, the month-piece of the telephone is provided with a Wire, n, suitable to slip over the ear and retain the said mouthpiece close to the ear.

VVhen intended to be supported on the ear it is desirable to have the weight as small as possible, and the weight at f should be omittcd, the switch, if any be needed, being then operated as iu Fi g. 2.

In Fig. 3 the month-piece is shown as made of thin sheet metal or other suitable material and shaped to embrace and be held on the ear, after the manner of an ordinary ear-muff.

I claim- 1. A telephonic apparatus comprising` an automatic switch, a fixed tclephone, a hearing or speaking;` tube therefor, adapted to bo suspended when not in use from the Operatinglever of said switch, and amechanical device,

such as a spring or weight, for increasing` the pressure on said lever when the tube is suspended therefrom, substantially as described.4

2. A fixed telephoue and flexible sound-conductin g tube therefor, provided with a weighted month-piece and means to suspend the same from the usual automatic switch when the telephone is not in use, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. A telephone and fiexible sound-conducting tube connected therewith,prVided With a month-piece adapted to be used for speaking, and also to be fastened and supported upon the ear of the listener, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have si gned my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS A. VATSON.

.Wit-nesses Jos. P. LIVERMORE, N. E. O. WHITNEY. 

